Dussehra 2026 in Simi Valley: Events, Puja & Where to Celebrate

TL;DR 🎇

• Dussehra 2026 is Tuesday October 20 — Simi Valley marks Vijayadashami with the broader Ventura County South Asian community
• Simi Valley Hindu Temple at 1925 Royal Ave is the primary local worship space for the Hindu community
• Navratri garba season runs October 11–19 across Ventura County and greater Los Angeles
• South Indian families observe Saraswati Puja on Oct 19 and use Oct 20 as an auspicious day to begin new ventures
• The festive season continues with Karva Chauth on Oct 29 and Diwali in November 🌙

Dussehra in the Ventura County Context

Simi Valley sits at the eastern edge of Ventura County, just across the county line from Los Angeles. The South Asian community here is smaller than in the San Fernando Valley or the Westside, but it is well-established, and Dussehra season draws families together around shared traditions that many have carried across decades and continents.

October 20, 2026 marks Vijayadashami — the day Lord Rama defeated Ravana and Goddess Durga slew Mahishasura. This is the culmination of nine nights of Navratri, which begins October 11. For the Desi community in Simi Valley and surrounding Ventura County, the season combines local worship at the nearby temple, participation in larger regional events across greater Los Angeles, and home-based observances that range from nine-day fasts to elaborate navaratra golu displays.

Simi Valley Hindu Temple

Simi Valley Hindu Temple at 1925 Royal Ave is the anchor for the local Hindu community's religious observances. The temple has served Simi Valley's South Asian families as a space for daily worship, major festival celebrations, and community events across the calendar.

During Navratri and Dussehra, Simi Valley Hindu Temple typically holds puja sessions for each of the nine days, with expanded programs on Durga Ashtami (October 18), Mahanavami (October 19), and Vijayadashami (October 20). The community congregation at the temple for Dussehra brings together families from across the Simi Valley, Moorpark, and eastern Ventura County area.

For the larger Navratri celebrations — the garba nights that define the social calendar for many South Asian families in Southern California — the Los Angeles metro's many large venues offer options within a reasonable drive. The Los Angeles area Desi garba season ranks among the largest in the country outside of Gujarat, with events at convention centers in Thousand Oaks, Calabasas, and San Fernando Valley neighborhoods.

The Malibu Hindu Temple, one of the most architecturally significant Hindu temples in Southern California, also draws devotees from Ventura County for major festival programs. Built in the traditional Chola style, the Malibu Hindu Temple serves the Shaiva community and is a significant resource for the broader regional South Asian population.

The Navratri Season Day by Day

October 11 — Pratipada: Navratri opens. Families begin fasting cycles, set up home altars with Durga or Saraswati images, and prepare for nine evenings of prayer and community celebration.

October 12–14 — First garba nights: The early Navratri weekend brings out Southern California's Gujarati community in force. Hundreds of families attend garba events, wearing traditional lehenga choli and chaniya choli, dancing through late evenings.

October 18 — Durga Ashtami: The eighth day. Kanya puja, special havan, and elaborate aarti at Simi Valley Hindu Temple and at temples across the Los Angeles region.

October 19 — Mahanavami: The final evening of Navratri. South Indian families observe Saraswati Puja — placing instruments, books, vehicles, and tools before the goddess. The evening aarti is typically the longest and most elaborate of the nine-day cycle.

October 20 — Vijayadashami: Dussehra arrives. Morning abhishekam at Simi Valley Hindu Temple. South Indian families take back their instruments and books from the puja altar and begin use — making this the most auspicious day to start learning, inaugurate tools, or launch ventures. North Indian and Gujarati communities look toward Ravan Dahan events in the Los Angeles area.

October 25 — Sharad Purnima: The full moon of Ashwin month. Families prepare kheer (rice milk pudding) to leave in moonlight overnight.

October 29 — Karva Chauth: The fasting festival for married women, observed widely across North Indian, Punjabi, and Sindhi households in Southern California.

Regional South Indian Vijayadashami Traditions

Simi Valley's South Asian community includes a significant proportion of families from South Indian states — particularly Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana. For these families, Vijayadashami carries specific traditions distinct from the North Indian Ravan Dahan narrative.

Ayudha Puja and Saraswati Puja (Mahanavami, Oct 19): On this day, all tools of work — from kitchen utensils to cars to musical instruments to computers — are cleaned, decorated with turmeric-kumkum, and placed before Goddess Saraswati for blessing. Nothing is used from this placement until the puja is complete.

Vijayadashami as the day to begin: October 20 is considered the single most auspicious date of the year by many South Indian traditions for starting new learning, beginning music lessons, launching a new job, or inaugurating a business. Children are brought to begin formal education in a ritual called Vidyarambham (starting of knowledge), particularly in Kerala traditions.

Golu display season: Through the nine days of Navratri, South Indian homes in Simi Valley display the Golu (navaratra figurine collection) on stepped platforms covered in silk. Families visit each other's golu displays and exchange sundal and sweets. It is one of the more distinctly South Indian dimensions of the Dussehra season.

Insider Tip: For Vijayadashami darshan at Simi Valley Hindu Temple on October 20, the early morning abhishekam (typically 8–9am) tends to be the most spiritually focused and least crowded window. The later morning and afternoon periods see the largest congregation. If you are traveling from Los Angeles or further, the morning program is worth the earlier drive.

FAQ

When is Dussehra 2026? Tuesday, October 20, 2026.

What is Simi Valley Hindu Temple? Simi Valley Hindu Temple at 1925 Royal Ave is the primary Hindu worship space in Simi Valley, serving the South Asian community of eastern Ventura County for puja, cultural programs, and festival celebrations.

What is Vidyarambham? Vidyarambham (also spelled Vidyaarambham) is the Kerala tradition of beginning formal education on Vijayadashami day. Children are guided to write their first letters in rice or sand as an auspicious start to learning.

What is Ayudha Puja? Ayudha Puja is the South Indian tradition of worshipping tools and instruments on Mahanavami. It represents the blessing of the means of one's livelihood by the goddess.

What are the largest Navratri garba events near Simi Valley? The Los Angeles area hosts some of the country's largest garba events during Navratri (Oct 11–19), including at convention centers in the San Fernando Valley, Thousand Oaks, and Calabasas. Check South Asian community event listings for 2026 schedules.

Bottom Line 🙏

For Simi Valley's South Asian families, Dussehra 2026 centers on Simi Valley Hindu Temple and the broader Southern California Desi community's festive season. Navratri garba nights run October 11–19 across the Los Angeles region, with Durga Ashtami on the 18th and Vijayadashami on the 20th marking the spiritual peak. Malibu Hindu Temple provides an additional significant resource for the regional community. October 20 carries dual weight — it is both the celebration of Rama's victory and the most auspicious day of the year to begin new learning or new work.